Ad hoc decentralized cloud infrastructure

ABSTRACT

Technologies for establishing and utilizing a decentralized cloud infrastructure using a plurality of mobile computing devices include broadcasting for the formation of the decentralized cloud computing and storage infrastructure and establishing wireless communications between the plurality of mobile computing devices. The plurality of mobile computing devices self-organize and cooperate with one another to establish a structured decentralized cloud infrastructure to expose and sharing resources, services, and/or applications for ad hoc or socially-driven decentralized, cloud computing purposes.

BACKGROUND

Numerous systems exist today to decentralize computing services. Forexample, there exist social networks, gaming networks, peer-to-peernetworking, ad hoc, and mesh network systems, which have found value inlocal or close proximity settings in which a network can be formedbetween devices without stationary infrastructure (e.g., servers androuters). Each of those systems, however, is typically very limited insize and scope. Additionally, the provisioning of network services maybe limited or simply unavailable.

Cloud computing permits computing resources to be shared with remote,and oftentimes dispersed, computing devices. Additionally,infrastructure as a service (IaaS) permits a cloud provider to offerusers access to various cloud resources via virtual machines and avirtual cloud infrastructure. However, cloud computing environments arepre-established and not generated ad hoc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The concepts described herein are illustrated by way of example and notby way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity andclarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale. Where considered appropriate, referencelabels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding oranalogous elements.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of at least one embodiment of asystem for generating and utilizing a decentralized cloudinfrastructure;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of at least one embodiment of anenvironment of a mobile computing device of the system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3D are a simplified block diagram of at least one embodiment ofdifferent virtual layers of the decentralized cloud infrastructureestablished by the system of FIG.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodimentof a method for establishing and utilizing a decentralized cloudinfrastructure with the mobile computing devices of the system of FIG.1; and

FIG. 6 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of amethod for joining a decentralized cloud infrastructure with a computingdevice of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof havebeen shown by way of example in the drawings and will be describedherein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is nointent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particularforms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the presentdisclosure and the appended claims.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”“an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodimentdescribed may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily includethat particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, suchphrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further,when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within theknowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure,or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described.

The disclosed embodiments may be implemented, in some cases, inhardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. The disclosedembodiments may also be implemented as instructions carried by or storedon a transitory or non-transitory machine-readable (e.g.,computer-readable) storage medium, which may be read and executed by oneor more processors. A machine-readable storage medium may be embodied asany storage device, mechanism, or other physical structure for storingor transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., avolatile or non-volatile memory, a media disc, or other media device).

In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown inspecific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should beappreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not berequired. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged ina different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures.Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in aparticular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required inall embodiments and, in some embodiments, may not be included or may becombined with other features.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a system 100 for generating and utilizing adecentralized cloud infrastructure includes a primary mobile computingdevice 102, a network 104, one or more secondary mobile computingdevices 106, and cloud resources 108. In use, as discussed in moredetail below, the primary mobile computing device 102 and the one ormore secondary mobile computing device 106 may establish and utilize adecentralized cloud infrastructure to share cloud and local resourceswith one another. Although only one network 104 and one cloud resources108 are illustratively shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 may include anynumber networks 104 and cloud resources 108. For example, the cloudresources 108 may be distributed across several computing devices and/ordatabases. In another embodiment, the primary mobile computing device102 and the secondary mobile computing devices 106 may communicate via aplurality of networks 104. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 1, thesystem 100 may include any number of secondary mobile computing device106. Further, in some embodiments, the primary mobile computing device102 and the secondary mobile computing devices 106 are similar and maybe referred to collectively as mobile computing devices 102, 106 (alsoreferred to as “nodes”).

The primary mobile computing device 102 may be embodied as any type ofcomputing device capable of establishing a communication link with atleast one of the secondary mobile computing devices 106 and performingthe functions described herein. For example, the primary mobilecomputing device 102 may be embodied as a cellular phone, smartphone,tablet computer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant, mobileInternet device, or other mobile computing/communication device. Asshown in FIG. 1, the illustrative primary mobile computing device 102includes a processor 110, an input/output (“I/O”) subsystem 112, amemory 114, a communication circuitry 116, one or more peripheraldevices 118, and a data storage 120. Of course, the primary mobilecomputing device 102 may include other or additional components, such asthose commonly found in a computing device (e.g., various input/outputdevices), in other embodiments. Additionally, in some embodiments, oneor more of the illustrative components may be incorporated in, orotherwise from a portion of, another component. For example, the memory114, or portions thereof, may be incorporated in the processor 110 insome embodiments.

The processor 110 may be embodied as any type of processor capable ofperforming the functions described herein. For example, the processormay be embodied as a single or multi-core processor(s), digital signalprocessor, microcontroller, or other processor or processing/controllingcircuit. Similarly, the memory 114 may be embodied as any type ofvolatile or non-volatile memory or data storage capable of performingthe functions described herein. In operation, the memory 114 may storevarious data and software used during operation of the primary mobilecomputing device 102 such as operating systems, applications, programs,libraries, and drivers. The memory 114 is communicatively coupled to theprocessor 110 via the I/O subsystem 112, which may be embodied ascircuitry and/or components to facilitate input/output operations withthe processor 110, the memory 114, and other components of the primarymobile computing device 102. For example, the I/O subsystem 112 may beembodied as, or otherwise include, memory controller hubs, input/outputcontrol hubs, firmware devices, communication links (i.e.,point-to-point links, bus links, wires, cables, light guides, printedcircuit board traces, etc.) and/or other components and subsystems tofacilitate the input/output operations. In some embodiments, the I/Osubsystem 112 may form a portion of a system-on-a-chip (SoC) and beincorporated, along with the processor 110, the memory 114, and othercomponents of the primary mobile computing device 102, on a singleintegrated circuit chip.

The communication circuitry 116 of the primary mobile computing device102 may be embodied as any communication circuit, device, or collectionthereof, capable of enabling communications between the primary mobilecomputing device 102 and other remote devices (e.g., the secondarymobile computing devices 106 and devices within the cloud resources 108)over the network 104. The communication circuitry 116 may be configuredto use any one or more communication technology (e.g., wireless or wiredcommunications) and associated protocols to effect such communication.For example, in some embodiments, the communication circuitry 116 may beembodied as, or otherwise include, near field communication circuitry,Bluetooth® communication circuitry, Wi-Fi® communication circuitry,and/or other short-ranged wireless communication circuitry.Additionally, in some embodiments, the communication circuitry 116 mayinclude long-ranged wireless communication circuitry such as, forexample, cellular communication circuitry and/or other long-rangedwireless communication circuitry.

The peripheral devices 118 of the primary mobile computing device 102may include any number of additional peripheral or interface devices.The particular devices included in the peripheral devices 118 may dependon, for example, the intended use of the primary mobile computing device102. The data storage 120 may be embodied as any type of device ordevices configured for short-term or long-term storage of data such as,for example, memory devices and circuits, memory cards, hard diskdrives, solid-state drives, or other data storage devices.

The network 104 may be embodied as any number of various wired and/orwireless telecommunication networks. As such, the network 104 mayinclude one or more networks, routers, switches, computers, and/or otherintervening devices. For example, the network 104 may be embodied as orotherwise include one or more cellular networks, telephone networks,local or wide area networks, publicly available global networks (e.g.,the Internet), or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, thenetwork 104 is embodied as or otherwise includes at least one of aGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular network, aUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) cellular network, anda Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile communication network.

The secondary mobile computing devices 106 may be embodied as any typeof computing device capable of performing the functions describedherein. For example, in some embodiments, the secondary mobile computingdevices 106 may be similar to the primary mobile computing device 102 asdescribed above. That is, each of the secondary mobile computing devices106 may be embodied as a cellular phone, smartphone, tablet computer,laptop computer, personal digital assistant, mobile Internet device, orother mobile computing/communication device. Further, each of thesecondary mobile computing devices 106 may include components similar tothose of the primary mobile computing device 102 discussed above. Thedescription of those components of the primary mobile computing device102 is equally applicable to the description of components of thesecondary mobile computing devices 106 and is not repeated herein forclarity of the description. Further, it should be appreciated that anyof the secondary mobile computing devices 106 may include othercomponents, sub-components, and devices commonly found in a computingdevice, which are not discussed above in reference to the primary mobilecomputing device 102 and not discussed herein for clarity of thedescription.

The cloud resources 108 may be embodied as any computing device orcollection of computing devices capable of communicating with theprimary mobile computing device 102 and/or the secondary mobilecomputing devices 106 over the network 104 and performing the functionsdescribed herein. It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments,the cloud resources 108 may be distributed and/or duplicated acrossmultiple computing devices. In some embodiments, the cloud resources 108may include, for example, one or more stationary mobile computingdevices, which may be used to bootstrap decentralized services to theprimary mobile computing device 102 and/or the secondary mobilecomputing devices 106 as discussed in detail below.

It should be appreciated that the system 100 may establish, maintain,and service the decentralized cloud infrastructure in a self-organizing,self-provisioning, and self-managing manner. That is, each of the mobilecomputing devices 102, 106 may establish, maintain, and/or service thedecentralized cloud infrastructure in an automated manner with little tono intervention or direction from the individual users of the mobilecomputing devices 102, 106 (e.g., each mobile computing device 106 mayjoin the decentralized cloud infrastructure with minimal or nointeraction by the user to facilitate such joining). Additionally, itshould be appreciated that the system 100 may be used in differentembodiments for many different purposes as discussed in detail below. Insome embodiments, a stationary computing device (e.g., affixed to astadium) may be used to facilitate the establishment of thedecentralized cloud infrastructure. In other embodiments, adecentralized cloud infrastructure may be established without suchstationary infrastructure dependence. Further, the system 100 may beused by the public and private sector alike. For example, an ad hocdecentralized cloud infrastructure may be established in military orbattlefield situations or in response to the occurrence of a naturaldisaster.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in use, the primary mobile computing device 102and the secondary mobile computing devices 106 may establish anenvironment 200 for establishing and utilizing a decentralized cloudinfrastructure. The environment 200 in the illustrative embodimentincludes a decentralized service module 202 and a communication module208, each of which may be embodied as software, firmware, hardware, or acombination thereof. Further, the decentralized service module 202includes decentralized cloud infrastructure services 204 anddecentralized node services 206.

The decentralized service module 202 may be used to share decentralizedservices (i.e., decentralized cloud infrastructure services 204 anddecentralized node services) between each of the primary mobilecomputing device 102 and the secondary mobile computing devices 106. Asdiscussed in detail below, the mobile computing devices 102, 106 mayshare decentralized services with one another to establish thedecentralized cloud infrastructure.

The decentralized cloud infrastructure services 204 may include coreservices for establishing the decentralized cloud infrastructure. Forexample, in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2, the decentralizedcloud infrastructure services 204 include a virtual infrastructuremodule 210, an information technology (IT) module 212, a platformservices module 214, and a shared node resource module 216. Of course,the decentralized cloud infrastructure services 204 may includeadditional or other modules in other embodiments. In some embodiments,the virtual infrastructure module 210, the IT module 212, the platformservices module 214, and the shared node resource module 216 compose thecore layers of the decentralized cloud infrastructure. As discussed indetail below, in some embodiments, each node may participate in one ormore of those layers. As such, some nodes may choose not to implementone or more of the layers (or some services of the layers). In such anembodiment, those nodes may not include all services necessary to fullycooperate in the decentralized cloud infrastructure.

The virtual infrastructure module 210 may determine the amount of cloudresources available to nodes. For example, in some embodiments, thevirtual infrastructure module 210 may virtualize and consolidate noderesources. For example, the virtual infrastructure module 210 mayassociate three nodes with the decentralized cloud infrastructure inwhich each node has 10 GB of available shared data storage. The virtualinfrastructure module 210 may virtualize and consolidate the shared datastorage to indicate that the decentralized cloud infrastructure hasavailable 30 GB of shared data storage. The virtual infrastructuremodule 210 may similarly virtualize other local node resources (e.g.,services, processor resources, other computing resources, etc.). Thatis, the virtual infrastructure module 210 may establish shareddecentralized cloud resources usable by the mobile computing devices102, 106.

The IT services module 212 may perform IT functions and services relatedto the decentralized cloud infrastructure. For example, the IT servicesmodule 212 may ensure security, management, delivery, and maintenance ofthe decentralized cloud environment. Further, in some embodiments, theIT services module 212 may handle domain name services and perform otherdistributed network functions. The platform services module 214 mayperform decentralized platform services (e.g., services specific to theplatform of the mobile computing devices 102, 106). In some embodiments,decentralized platform services may include, for example, commonplatform services such as messaging, content delivery, distributedprocessing, payments, and other services from which an entity may buildcomplete solutions.

The shared node resource module 216 permits each mobile computing device102, 106 to share cooperative applications and user services with othermobile computing devices 102, 106. For example, the primary mobilecomputing device 102 may offer its local resources to a secondary mobilecomputing device 106. The primary mobile computing device 102 may alsoreceive from the secondary mobile computing device 106 offers ofresources local to the secondary mobile computing device 106. Asdiscussed in greater detail below, local resources may includehardware/computational resources (e.g., memory and data storage, unusedprocessing power, etc.), services, and other cooperative applications(e.g., peer-to-peer content sharing, etc.). In some embodiments, eachmobile computing device 102, 106 may choose which end-user centeredapplications and/or services they expose or register for advertisementsharing purposes (i.e., which applications/services they offer) andwhich applications and/or services they discover for consumptionpurposes (i.e., which applications/services they accept offers of).Additionally, it should be appreciated that in some embodiments, themobile computing device 102, 106 may offer their applications andservices for free or at a cost to the other mobile computing devices102, 106. For example, one mobile computing device 102, 106 may selllocal storage space to another mobile computing device 102, 106.

The decentralized node services 206 may include a bootstrap module 218,a context module 220, a connectivity module 222, and a configurationmodule 224, each of which may be embodied as software, firmware,hardware, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more ofthe bootstrap module 218, the context module 220, the connectivitymodule 222, and the configuration module 224 may be incorporated in orotherwise combined with one or more of the decentralized cloudinfrastructure services 204. For example, the configuration module 224may be incorporated in the virtual infrastructure module 210 in someembodiments. Accordingly, as with the decentralized cloud infrastructureservices 204, each of the mobile computing devices 102, 106 may notinclude one or more of the decentralized node services 206.

The bootstrap module 218 may perform some function to allow a service orapplication to be loaded onto one of the mobile computing devices 102,106. For example, the bootstrap module 218 of the primary mobilecomputing device 102 may download and/or configure one of thedecentralized cloud infrastructure services 204 or a shared noderesource for the primary mobile computing device 102. In anotherembodiment, the bootstrap module 218 may be used by one mobile computingdevice 102, 106 to bootstrap something onto one of the other mobilecomputing device 102, 106.

The context module 220 may determine the context of the mobile computingdevice 102, 106 at a particular point in time. For example, in someembodiments, the context module 220 has awareness and introspectioncapabilities such that the context module 220 is able to determine theinternal and external environment of the mobile computing device 102,106 (e.g., using one or more sensors of the mobile computing device 102,106). In one embodiment, the context module 220 may determine thegeographical location of the mobile computing device 102, 106.Additionally or alternatively, the context module 220 may determine howor for what purpose the mobile computing device 102, 106 is being used.In yet other embodiments, the context module 220 may otherwise determinethe current situation of the mobile computing device 102, 106 (e.g.,mobile environment, military environment, stadium environment, andnatural disaster situation, etc.).

The connectivity module 222 may allow the mobile computing device 102,106 to register/advertise shared node resources. That is, in someembodiments, the connectivity module 222 permits one mobile computingdevice 102, 106 to offer local resources to and receive offers of localresources from another mobile computing device 102, 106. Theconfiguration module 224 manages the complex decentralized cloudinfrastructure. Additionally, in some embodiments, the communicationmodule 208 may handle the communication between the mobile computingdevice 102, 106 and remote devices (e.g., other mobile computing devices102, 106 and cloud resources 108) through the network 104. Each of thedecentralized service module 202, the communication module 208, thevirtual infrastructure module 210, the IT services module 212, theplatform services module 214, the shared node resource module 216, thebootstrap module 218, the context module 220, the connectivity module222, and the configuration module 224 may be embodied as hardware,software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3D, in use, each of the mobile computingdevices 102, 106 may cooperate to establish a decentralized cloudnetwork 300. As discussed above, the decentralized cloud network 300 mayinclude multiple layers including a decentralized virtual infrastructurelayer, a decentralized platform services layer, a decentralized sharedIT services layer, and a cooperative application/user services layer.Each of the layers of the decentralized cloud network 300 can beconceptually illustrated as a virtual mesh of interconnected,peer-to-peer computing nodes (i.e., the mobile computing devices 102,106). In this may, the structure of the decentralized cloud network 300can be visualized as a decentralized, virtualized, and layered.

For example, an illustrative embodiment of the decentralized virtualinfrastructure layer 302 is shown in FIG. 3A. The decentralized virtualinfrastructure layer 302 includes a plurality of network nodes 304,embodied as the various mobile computing devices 102, 106,interconnected with a virtualized infrastructure 306 (shown in FIG. 3Aas mesh interconnections between the nodes 304). The virtualizedinfrastructure 306 is an abstract visualization of the virtualizedcomputational, network, storage, and database resources of thedecentralized cloud network 300, which are formed from the individualresources of each of the participating network nodes 304. As such, itshould be appreciated that some nodes may contribute greater oradditional virtualized resources to the decentralized cloud network 300relative to other nodes. Additionally, as discussed above, nodes mayjoin and leave the decentralized cloud network 300 at any time. Forexample, an arriving node 308 and a departing node 310 are illustratedin FIG. 3A. Further, as discussed above, the mobile computing devices102, 106 may also interact with a stationary mobile computing device(i.e., mobile node 312) forming the decentralized cloud network 300. Forexample, the primary mobile computing device 102 may utilize astationary mobile computing device 302 to bootstrap decentralizedservices not already on the primary mobile computing device 102 whenfirst broadcasting for the establishment of the decentralized cloudnetwork 300.

As shown in FIG. 3B, an illustrative embodiment of the decentralizedplatform services layer 320, which is established on (i.e., layeredover) the decentralized virtual infrastructure layer 302, is shown. Thedecentralized platform services layer 320 includes the plurality ofnetwork nodes 304 interconnected with virtualized service connections322 (shown in FIG. 3B as mesh interconnections between the nodes 304).The virtualized service connections 322 is an abstract visualization ofthe decentralized platform service resources of the decentralized cloudnetwork 300, which are formed from the platform service resourcesoffered by each of the participating network nodes 304. It should beappreciated that the platform services are decentralized, such that somenetwork nodes may have more platform service resources than others. Forexample, those network nodes 304 of FIG. 3B shown in hash may beembodied as network nodes 304 having or offering one or more platformservices, which may be different between each offering network node 304.Those network nodes 304 of FIG. 3B that are not shown in hash may beembodied as network nodes 304 consuming those platform services offeredby the other network nodes 304 (e.g., those network nodes 304 havingfewer platform services or those network nodes 304 not offering anyplatform services). As such, rather than being stored and available froma single node 304 of the decentralized cloud network 300, the platformservice resources are spread across the various nodes 304 of the network300 in a decentralized manner based on the needs of each individual node304 and are available to any node 304 of the network 300 via apeer-to-peer connection as discussed above.

As shown in FIG. 3C, an illustrative embodiment of the decentralizedshared IT services layer 330 is established on (i.e., layered over) thedecentralized platform services layer 320 and includes the plurality ofnetwork nodes 304 interconnected with virtualized service connections332 (shown in FIG. 3C as mesh interconnections between the nodes 304).The virtualized service connections 332 is an abstract visualization ofthe decentralized shared IT service resources of the decentralized cloudnetwork 300, which are formed from the shared IT service resourcesoffered by each of the participating network nodes 304. As with thedecentralized platform services, it should be appreciated that theshared IT services are decentralized, such that some network nodes mayhave more IT service resources than others. For example, those networknodes 304 of FIG. 3C shown in hash may be embodied as network nodes 304having or offering one or more IT services, which may be differentbetween each offering network node 304. Those network nodes 304 of FIG.3C that are not shown in hash may be embodied as network nodes 304consuming those IT services offered by the other network nodes 304(e.g., those network nodes 304 having fewer IT services or those networknodes 304 not offering any IT services). As such, rather than beingstored and available from a single node 304 of the decentralized cloudnetwork 300, the shared IT service resources are spread across thevarious nodes 304 of the network 300 in a decentralized manner based onthe needs of each individual node 304 and are available to any node 304of the network 300 via a peer-to-peer connection.

As shown in FIG. 3D, an illustrative embodiment of the decentralizedcooperative application/user services layer 340, which is alsoestablished on (i.e., layered over) the decentralized platform serviceslayer 320, is shown. The decentralized cooperative application/userservices layer 340 includes the plurality of network nodes 304interconnected with virtualized service connections 342 (shown in FIG.3C as mesh interconnections between the nodes 304). The virtualizedservice connections 342 is an abstract visualization of thedecentralized cooperative application/user service resources of thedecentralized cloud network 300, which are formed from the cooperativeapplication/user service resources offered by each of the participatingnetwork nodes 304. As with the decentralized platform services, itshould be appreciated that the cooperative application/user services aredecentralized, such that some network nodes may have more cooperativeapplication/user service resources than others. For example, thosenetwork nodes 304 of FIG. 3D shown in hash may be embodied as networknodes 304 having or offering one or more cooperative application/userservices, which may be different between each offering network node 304.Those network nodes 304 of FIG. 3D that are not shown in hash may beembodied as network nodes 304 consuming those cooperativeapplication/user services offered by the other network nodes 304 (e.g.,those network nodes 304 having fewer cooperative application/userservices or those network nodes 304 not offering any cooperativeapplication/user services). As such, rather than being stored andavailable from a single node 304 of the decentralized cloud network 300,the cooperative application/user service resources are spread across thevarious nodes 304 of the network 300 in a decentralized manner based onthe needs of each individual node 304 and are available to any node 304of the network 300 via a peer-to-peer connection.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in use, the mobile computing devices 102, 106may execute a method 400 for utilizing a decentralized cloudinfrastructure. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the mobilecomputing devices 102, 106 may establish and/or utilized thedecentralized cloud infrastructure without user intervention or withminimal user intervention (e.g., for authentication purposes). Themethod 400 begins with block 402 in which the primary mobile computingdevice 102 broadcasts for the formation of the decentralized cloud. Thatis, the primary mobile computing device 102 indicates to one or moresecondary mobile computing devices 106 in the vicinity that the primarymobile computing device 102 is interested in forming a decentralizedcloud infrastructure. In doing so, in block 404, the primary mobilecomputing device 102 may install one or more decentralized services notalready on the primary mobile computing device 102 by retrieving (orbootstrapping) those services from one or more stationary computingdevices (e.g., a device made available for such purposes at a stadium).It should be appreciated that the primary mobile computing device 102 isdenoted as “primary” due to its origination of the decentralized cloudinfrastructure. In other embodiments (e.g., at another point in time),one of the secondary mobile computing device 106 may act as the“primary” computing device by executing block 402 to broadcast for theformation of the decentralized cloud.

In block 406, the system 100 determines whether a new node connectionhas been established. For example, in the first instance, the primarymobile computing device 102 determines whether one of the secondarymobile computing devices 106 has established a communication connectionwith the primary mobile computing device 102 to form the decentralizedcloud. After the primary mobile computing device 102 establishes aconnection with the first secondary mobile computing device 106 (i.e.,in subsequent iterations of block 406), the system 100 determineswhether another secondary mobile computing device 106 establishes aconnection with one of the mobile computing devices 102, 106 alreadyconnected.

If the system 100 determines that a new node connection has beenestablished, the connected mobile computing devices 102, 106 sharedecentralized services with one another in block 408. In doing so, themobile computing devices 102, 106 may share IT services in block 410,share platform services in block 412, and/or share other core servicesin block 414. Each of the mobile computing devices 102, 106 mayparticipate in all or only some of the layers as discussed above. Forexample, if a newly connecting secondary mobile computing device 106wants to participate in each layer but has no decentralized servicesalready on it, each of the virtual infrastructure module 210, the ITservices module 212, the platform services module 214, and the sharednode resource module 216 may be installed or bootstrapped to the newsecondary mobile computing device 106 (e.g., from another connectedmobile computing device 102, 106 or a stationary computing device). Itshould be appreciated that, in some embodiments, as the number of nodesin the decentralized cloud increases, the decentralized cloudinfrastructure becomes more robust. As such, in some embodiments, thedecentralized cloud begins to behave like a traditional cloudenvironment once a critical number of cloud nodes is obtained.

In block 416, the system 100 determines whether the decentralized cloudinfrastructure has been established or maintained. Returning to block406, if the system 100 determines that no new node connection has beenestablished, the method 400 advances to block 416. In some embodiments,determining whether the decentralized cloud infrastructure has beenestablished comprises determining whether a critical number of mobilecomputing devices 102, 106 are connected to one another. In anotherembodiment, in order for the decentralized cloud infrastructure to beestablished, the number of connected mobile computing devices 102, 106must reach a predefined number (e.g., in a predefined amount of time).In other embodiments, the decentralized cloud infrastructure isestablished when a critical amount of decentralized services areavailable to the members of the decentralized cloud (i.e., the connectedmobile computing devices 102, 106). In yet another embodiment, acombination of those criteria and others may be used. In someembodiments, the decentralized cloud infrastructure is maintained aslong as the requirements to establish the decentralized cloud are stillmet. If, in block 416, the system 100 determines that the decentralizedcloud infrastructure is not established, the system 100 determineswhether a node connection has been lost in block 418 (i.e., a mobilecomputing device 102, 106 has disconnected). The method 400 advances toblock 406 in which the system 100 determines whether a new node hasconnected.

Referring now to FIG. 5, if the system 100 determines in block 416 (seeFIG. 4) that the decentralized cloud infrastructure has beenestablished, the mobile computing devices 102, 106 share node resourcesin block 420. In doing so, in block 422, each mobile computing device102, 106 may offer shared local resources to the other mobile computingdevices 102, 106 in the decentralized cloud. Similar, each mobilecomputing device 102, 106 may receive offers of the shared localresources of the other mobile computing devices 102, 106. In otherwords, the system 100 establishes shared decentralized cloud resourcesfor use by the mobile computing devices 102, 106.

In block 424, the system 100 determines whether a node connection hasbeen lost. If a node connection has been lost, the system 100 determineswhether the decentralized cloud infrastructure has been maintained inblock 430 (e.g., has the number of nodes dropped below the criticalnumber). If not, in block 432, the system 100 terminates thedecentralized cloud infrastructure in block 432. That is, in someembodiments, the mobile computing devices 102, 106 become unable toshare node resources with one another. In block 434, the system 100determines whether to reestablish the decentralized cloudinfrastructure. If so, the method 400 returns to block 406 of FIG. 4 inwhich the system 100 determines whether new node connection has beenestablished.

If the system 100 determines in block 424 that a node connection has notbeen lost and/or the decentralized cloud infrastructure has otherwisebeen maintained in block 430, the system 100 determines whether a newnode has connected in block 426. If so, in block 428, the mobilecomputing devices 102, 106 share decentralized services. Morespecifically, in some embodiments, the newly connected secondary mobilecomputing device 106 may install one or more decentralized services notalready on the secondary mobile computing device 106 by retrieving (orbootstrapping) those services from one or more mobile computing devices102, 106 (or a stationary computing device). The method 400 returns toblock 420 in which the mobile computing devices 102, 106 share noderesources. In other words, the newly connected secondary mobilecomputing device 106 may participate in the decentralized cloud byoffering and/or receiving offers for node resources.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in use, one of the secondary mobile computingdevices 106 may execute a method 600 for joining a decentralized cloudinfrastructure. The method 600 begins with block 602 in which thesecondary mobile computing device 106 determines whether to join thedecentralized cloud infrastructure. If so, the secondary mobilecomputing device 106 may bootstrap decentralized cloud infrastructureservices in block 604. In doing so, the secondary mobile computingdevice 106 may bootstrap IT services in block 606, bootstrap platformservices in block 608, and bootstrap other core services in block 610.As discussed above, the secondary mobile computing device 106 mayparticipate in one or more layers of the decentralized cloudinfrastructure. In block 612, the secondary mobile computing device 106offers local node resources to the other mobile computing devices 102,106. Additionally, in block 614, the secondary mobile computing device106 may receive offers of shared local resources of the other mobilecomputing devices 102, 106. In block 616, the secondary mobile computingdevice 106 determines whether to disconnect from the decentralizedcloud. If not, the method 600 returns to block 612 in which the mobilecomputing devices 101, 106 continue to share resources.

EXAMPLES

Illustrative examples of the devices, systems, and methods disclosedherein are provided below. An embodiment of the devices, systems, andmethods may include any one or more, and any combination of, theexamples described below.

Example 1 includes a mobile computing device for utilizing adecentralized cloud infrastructure. The mobile computing device includesa communication module to (i) broadcast for the formation of thedecentralized cloud infrastructure, and (ii) establish a wirelesscommunication connection with at least one secondary mobile computingdevice; and a decentralized service module to (i) establish thedecentralized cloud infrastructure by sharing decentralized cloudservices with the at least one secondary mobile computing device and(ii) establish shared cloud resources usable by the mobile computingdevice and the at least one secondary mobile computing device byoffering local resources of the mobile computing device to the at leastone secondary mobile computing device; and receiving offers of sharedlocal resources of the at least one secondary mobile computing device.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and wherein thedecentralized service module is further to retrieve at least onedecentralized service not on the mobile computing device from astationary computing device.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1 and 2, andwherein the decentralized service module is to establish shared cloudresources in response to establishing the decentralized cloudinfrastructure.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3, andwherein the shared cloud resources comprise at least one ofcomputational resources, storage resources, and cloud service resources.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4, andwherein the decentralized services comprise decentralized platformservices and decentralized information technology services.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-5, andwherein the decentralized service module is to share the decentralizedservices by transmitting decentralized services to the at least onesecondary mobile computing device; and retrieving from the at least onesecondary mobile computing device any required decentralized service noton the mobile computing device.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6, andwherein the decentralized service module comprises a decentralizedservice module to establish a decentralized cloud network byestablishing one or more service layers over the decentralized cloudinfrastructure in a peer-to-peer mesh structure.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-7, andwherein the one or more service layers comprises at least one of: adecentralized platform service layer, a decentralized informationtechnology service layer, and a decentralized user services layer.

Example 9 includes a mobile computing device for joining a decentralizedcloud infrastructure including a plurality of nodes, the mobilecomputing device comprising a communication module to (i) establish awireless communication connection with at least one node of thedecentralized cloud infrastructure and (ii) receive one or moredecentralized cloud services from the at least one node; a bootstrapmodule to bootstrap the one or more decentralized services on the mobilecomputing device; and a decentralized service module to establish sharedcloud resources by (i) offering local resources of the mobile computingdevice to the at least one node and (ii) receiving offers of sharedlocal resources of the at least one node.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of Example 9, and wherein the oneor more decentralized cloud services received from the at least one nodecomprises decentralized services not on the mobile computing device.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 9 and 10, andwherein the decentralized service module is to establish shared cloudresources in response to bootstrapping the one or more decentralizedservices.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 9-11, andwherein the shared cloud resources comprise at least one ofcomputational resources, storage resources, and cloud service resources.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 9-12, andwherein the decentralized services comprise decentralized platformservices and decentralized information technology services.

Example 14 includes a method for utilizing a decentralized cloudinfrastructure on a mobile computing device. The method includesbroadcasting, from the mobile computing device, for the formation of thedecentralized cloud infrastructure; establishing, with the mobilecomputing device, a wireless communication connection with at least onesecondary mobile computing device; establishing, using the mobilecomputing device, the decentralized cloud infrastructure by sharingdecentralized cloud services with the at least one secondary mobilecomputing device; and establishing, using the mobile computing device,shared cloud resources usable by the mobile computing device and the atleast one secondary mobile computing device by (i) offering localresources of the mobile computing device to the at least one secondarymobile computing device and (ii) receiving offers of shared localresources of the at least one secondary mobile computing device.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of Example 14, and furtherincluding retrieving, with the mobile computing device, at least onedecentralized cloud service not on the mobile computing device from astationary computing device.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 14 and 15, andwherein establishing the shared cloud resources comprises establishingcloud resources in response to establishing the decentralized cloudinfrastructure.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 14-16, andsharing the decentralize services comprises transmitting, from themobile computing device, decentralized services to the at least onesecondary mobile computing device; and retrieving, with the mobilecomputing device, any required decentralized service not on the mobilecomputing device from the at least one secondary mobile computingdevice.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 14-17, andwherein establishing the decentralized cloud infrastructure comprisesestablishing a decentralized cloud network by establishing one or moreservice layers over the decentralized cloud infrastructure in apeer-to-peer mesh structure.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 14-18, andwherein establishing the one or more service layers comprisesestablishing, over the decentralized cloud infrastructure, at least oneof: a decentralized platform service layer, a decentralized informationtechnology service layer, and a decentralized user services layer.

Example 20 includes a computing device comprising a processor; and amemory having stored therein a plurality of instructions that whenexecuted by the processor cause the computing device to perform themethod of any of Examples 14-19.

Example 21 includes one or more machine readable storage mediacomprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that in responseto being executed result in a computing device performing the method ofany of Examples 14-19.

Example 22 includes a method for joining a decentralized cloudinfrastructure comprising a plurality of nodes using a mobile computingdevice. The method includes establishing, using the mobile computingdevice, a wireless communication connection with at least one node ofthe decentralized cloud infrastructure; receiving, with the mobilecomputing device, one or more decentralized services from the at leastone node; bootstrapping the one or more decentralized cloud services onthe mobile computing device; and establishing, using the mobilecomputing device, shared cloud resources by (i) offering local resourcesof the mobile computing device to the at least one node and (ii)receiving offers of shared local resources of the at least one node.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of Example 22, and whereinreceiving the one or more decentralized services comprises retrievingone or more decentralized cloud services not on the mobile computingdevice from the at least one node.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 22 and 23, andwherein establishing the shared cloud resources is in response tobootstrapping the one or more decentralized cloud services.

Example 25 includes a computing device comprising a processor; and amemory having stored therein a plurality of instructions that whenexecuted by the processor cause the computing device to perform themethod of any of Examples 22-24.

Example 26 includes one or more machine readable storage mediacomprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that in responseto being executed result in a computing device performing the method ofany of Examples 22-24.

Example 27 includes a computing device for utilizing a decentralizedcloud infrastructure. The computing device includes means for performingthe method of any of Examples 22-24.

Example 28 includes a system for utilizing a decentralized cloudinfrastructure. The system includes a plurality of mobile computingdevices in which one mobile computing device of the plurality of mobilecomputing devices is to (i) broadcast for the formation of thedecentralized cloud infrastructure and (ii) establish a wirelesscommunication connection with at least one other mobile computingdevice; and the one mobile computing device and the at least one othermobile computing device of the plurality of mobile computing devices areto (i) establish the decentralized cloud infrastructure by sharingdecentralized cloud services with each other and (ii) establish sharedcloud resources by sharing local resources with each other.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of Example 28, and furtherincluding a stationary computing device to share decentralized cloudservices with the one mobile computing device.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28 and 29, andwherein the one mobile computing device is to retrieve at least onedecentralized cloud service not on the one mobile computing device fromthe stationary computing device.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-30, andwherein the stationary computing device is further to sharedecentralized cloud services with the at least one other mobilecomputing device.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-31, andwherein the decentralized services comprise decentralized platformservices and decentralized information technology services.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-32, andwherein to establish the decentralized cloud infrastructure comprises toestablish the decentralized cloud infrastructure in response to thenumber of the mobile computing devices of the decentralized cloudinfrastructure reaching a threshold number of devices.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-33, andwherein to establish the decentralized cloud infrastructure comprises toestablish the decentralized cloud infrastructure within a predeterminedamount of time.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-34, andwherein the one mobile computing device is to transmit a firstdecentralized service to the at least one other mobile computing deviceto share the decentralized cloud services.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-35, andwherein a first mobile computing device of the at least one other mobilecomputing device is to transmit a second decentralized service to asecond mobile computing device of the at least one other mobilecomputing device to share the decentralized cloud services.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-36, andwherein the one mobile computing device and the at least one othermobile computing device are to establish the cloud resources in responseto establishing the decentralized cloud infrastructure.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-37, and theone mobile computing device and the at least one other mobile computingdevice of the plurality of mobile computing devices are to establish adecentralized cloud network by establishing one or more service layersover the decentralized cloud infrastructure in a peer-to-peer meshstructure.

Example 39 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 28-38, andwherein the one or more service layers comprises at least one of: adecentralized platform service layer, a decentralized informationtechnology service layer, and a decentralized user services layer.

1. A mobile computing device for utilizing a decentralized cloudinfrastructure, the mobile computing device comprising: a communicationmodule to (i) broadcast for the formation of the decentralized cloudinfrastructure, and (ii) establish a wireless communication connectionwith at least one secondary mobile computing device; and a decentralizedservice module to (i) establish the decentralized cloud infrastructureby sharing decentralized cloud services with the at least one secondarymobile computing device and (ii) establish shared cloud resources usableby the mobile computing device and the at least one secondary mobilecomputing device, wherein to establish the shared cloud resourcescomprise to: offer local resources of the mobile computing device to theat least one secondary mobile computing device; and receive offers ofshared local resources of the at least one secondary mobile computingdevice.
 2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein thedecentralized service module is further to retrieve at least onedecentralized service not on the mobile computing device from astationary computing device.
 3. The mobile computing device of claim 1,wherein the decentralized service module is to establish shared cloudresources in response to establishing the decentralized cloudinfrastructure, the shared cloud resources comprising at least one ofcomputational resources, storage resources, and cloud service resources.4. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the decentralizedservices comprise decentralized platform services and decentralizedinformation technology services.
 5. The mobile computing device of claim1, wherein the decentralized service module is to transmit decentralizedservices to the at least one secondary mobile computing device and toretrieve from the at least one secondary mobile computing device anyrequired decentralized service not on the mobile computing device toshare the decentralized services.
 6. The mobile computing device ofclaim 1, wherein the decentralized service module comprises adecentralized service module to establish one or more service layersover the decentralized cloud infrastructure in a peer-to-peer meshstructure to establish a decentralized cloud network.
 7. The mobilecomputing device of claim 6, wherein the one or more service layerscomprises at least one of: a decentralized platform service layer, adecentralized information technology service layer, and a decentralizeduser services layer.
 8. A mobile computing device for joining adecentralized cloud infrastructure having a plurality of nodes, themobile computing device comprising: a communication module to (i)establish a wireless communication connection with at least one node ofthe decentralized cloud infrastructure and (ii) receive one or moredecentralized cloud services from the at least one node; a bootstrapmodule to bootstrap the one or more decentralized services on the mobilecomputing device; and a decentralized service module to establish sharedcloud resources as a function of (i) offers of local resources of themobile computing device to the at least one node and (ii) receipts ofoffers of shared local resources of the at least one node.
 9. The mobilecomputing device of claim 8, wherein the one or more decentralized cloudservices received from the at least one node comprises decentralizedservices not on the mobile computing device.
 10. The mobile computingdevice of claim 9, wherein the decentralized service module is toestablish shared cloud resources in response to bootstrapping the one ormore decentralized services.
 11. A method for utilizing a decentralizedcloud infrastructure on a mobile computing device, the methodcomprising: broadcasting, from the mobile computing device, for theformation of the decentralized cloud infrastructure; establishing, withthe mobile computing device, a wireless communication connection with atleast one secondary mobile computing device; establishing, using themobile computing device, the decentralized cloud infrastructure bysharing decentralized cloud services with the at least one secondarymobile computing device; and establishing, using the mobile computingdevice, shared cloud resources usable by the mobile computing device andthe at least one secondary mobile computing device by (i) offering localresources of the mobile computing device to the at least one secondarymobile computing device and (ii) receiving offers of shared localresources of the at least one secondary mobile computing device.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising retrieving, with the mobilecomputing device, at least one decentralized cloud service not on themobile computing device from a stationary computing device.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein establishing the shared cloud resourcescomprises establishing cloud resources in response to establishing thedecentralized cloud infrastructure.
 14. The method of claim 11, whereinsharing the decentralize services comprises: transmitting, from themobile computing device, decentralized services to the at least onesecondary mobile computing device; and retrieving, with the mobilecomputing device, any required decentralized service not on the mobilecomputing device from the at least one secondary mobile computingdevice.
 15. One or more machine readable storage media comprising aplurality of instructions stored thereon that, in response to beingexecuted, result in a mobile computing device: broadcasting for theformation of the decentralized cloud infrastructure; establishing awireless communication connection with at least one secondary mobilecomputing device; establishing the decentralized cloud infrastructure bysharing decentralized cloud services with the at least one secondarymobile computing device; and establishing shared cloud resources usableby the mobile computing device and the at least one secondary mobilecomputing device by (i) offering local resources of the mobile computingdevice to the at least one secondary mobile computing device and (ii)receiving offers of shared local resources of the at least one secondarymobile computing device.
 16. The one or more machine readable storagemedia of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions further resultin the mobile computing device retrieving at least one decentralizedcloud service not on the mobile computing device from a stationarycomputing device.
 17. The one or more machine readable storage media ofclaim 15, wherein establishing the shared cloud resources comprisesestablishing cloud resources in response to establishing thedecentralized cloud infrastructure.
 18. The one or more machine readablestorage media of claim 15, wherein sharing the decentralize servicescomprises: transmitting, from the mobile computing device, decentralizedservices to the at least one secondary mobile computing device; andretrieving, with the mobile computing device, any required decentralizedservice not on the mobile computing device from the at least onesecondary mobile computing device.
 19. The one or more machine readablestorage media of claim 15, wherein establishing the decentralized cloudinfrastructure comprises establishing a decentralized cloud network byestablishing one or more service layers over the decentralized cloudinfrastructure in a peer-to-peer mesh structure.
 20. The one or moremachine readable storage media of claim 19, wherein establishing the oneor more service layers comprises establishing, over the decentralizedcloud infrastructure, at least one of: a decentralized platform servicelayer, a decentralized information technology service layer, and adecentralized user services layer.